Chlamydia pneumoniae polynucleotides and uses thereof

Abstract

The subject of the invention is the genomic sequence and the nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides of Chlamydia pneumoniae , such as cellular envelope polypeptides, which are secreted or specific, or which are involved in metabolism, in the replication process or in virulence, polypeptides encoded by such sequences, as well as vectors including the said sequences and cells or animals transformed with these vectors. The invention also relates to transcriptional gene products of the Chlamydia pneumoniae genome, such as, for example, antisense and ribozyme molecules, which can be used to control growth of the microorganism. The invention also relates to methods of detecting these nucleic acids or polypeptides and kits for diagnosing Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. The invention also relates to a method of selecting compounds capable of modulating bacterial infection and a method for the biosynthesis or biodegradation of molecules of interest using the said nucleotide sequences or the said polypeptides. The invention finally comprises, pharmaceutical, in particular vaccine, compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of bacterial, in particular Chlamydia pneumoniae , infections.

1. An isolated polynucleotide:
 a) comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding ORF 291 (SEQ ID NO: 291) and a heterologous nucleic acid sequence; or 
 b) consisting of a polynucleotide that is fully complementary to nucleotides 323190 to 322366 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
 
     
     
       2. The isolated polynucleotide according to  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide consists of a polynucleotide that is fully complementary to nucleotides 323190 to 322366 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       3. The isolated polynucleotide according to  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide sequence encoding ORF 291 (SEQ ID NO: 291) and a heterologous nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
       4. An isolated vector comprising a polynucleotide a sequence encoding ORF 291 (SEQ ID NO: 291). 
     
     
       5. The vector according to  claim 4 , wherein said polynucleotide consists of a polynucleotide that is fully complementary to nucleotides 323190 to 322366 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       6. The vector according to  claim 4 , wherein said polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide that is fully complementary to nucleotides 323190 to 322366 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       7. An isolated recombinant host cell comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding ORF 291 (SEQ ID NO: 291). 
     
     
       8. The recombinant host cell according to  claim 7 , wherein said polynucleotide consists of a polynucleotide that is fully complementary to nucleotides 323190 to 322366 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       9. The recombinant host cell according to  claim 7 , wherein said polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide that is fully complementary to nucleotides 323190 to 322366 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       10. A method of making a polypeptide comprising culturing a recombinant host cell comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding ORF 291 (SEQ ID NO: 291) operably linked to a heterologous promoter under conditions that allow for the expression of said polypeptide. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said polynucleotide consists of a polynucleotide that is fully complementary to nucleotides 323190 to 322366 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide that is fully complementary to nucleotides 323190 to 322366 of SEQ ID NO: 1.